Electrical switches

ABSTRACT

An electrical switch for use in conjunction with a key operated ignition control for a road vehicle includes a hollow body carrying a pair of fixed contacts. A movable bridging contact is movable by an insulating operating member into engagement with the fixed contacts to bridge the fixed contacts when the operating key is inserted into the ignition control. The switch is used in conjunction with an alarm device and a switch operated by the driver&#39;&#39;s door of the vehicle, so that the alarm device is operated when the driver&#39;&#39;s door is opened with the key left in the ignition control.

United States Patent Cryer [451 Mar. 21, 1972 54] ELECTRICAL SWITCHES [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Edward Cryer, Higharn, near Bumley, En- UNITED STATES PATENTS g 3,310,642 3/1967 Zeller ..2o0/44 [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Llmlted, Birm England Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser [22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1970 Attorney-Holman and Stern 21 Appl. No.: 9,011 [57] ABSTRACT M Z2555:filrilifil'fiiifilhfi?lfififilfilloi'i iilififf Feb. 18, Great Britain rying a pair of fixed contacts A movable bridging ontact is July 8, 1969 Great Britain ..34,388/69 movable by an insulating operating member into engagement with the fixed contacts to bridge the fixed contacts when the E 200/153 z figg g operating key is inserted into the ignition control. The switch [58] Field olSearch ..200/44,42,11,11A,11B, an alarm and 3 200/11 C, 63-65, 153 LA, 61.59

operated by the drivers door of the vehicle, so that the alarm device is operated when the drivers door is opened with the key left in the ignition control.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZI I972 sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR d C AfibRNEYs wwm IPAIENTEDMARZI I972 3,651,288

sum 2 OF 2 lNVENTOR AWQRNEYS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES This invention relates to electrical switches for use in conjunction with key operated ignition controls in road vehicles.

A switch according to the invention includes a hollow body, a pair of fixed contacts, a movable bridging contact, and an operating member formed from insulating material said bridging contact being movable with said operating member and said operating member being movable from a rest position, by insertion of an operating key into the ignition control with which the switch is associated, to an operative position wherein said bridging contact completes a 'circuit between said fixed contacts.

In the preferred form the invention resides in a switch including a hollow body which is positioned in use generally coaxially with the barrel of a cylinder lock of the ignition control with which the switch is utilized, a plate closing one end of the body and mounted for rotation relative to the body, a slot in said plate through which the operating key is inserted into the barrel of said cylinder lock, a pair of fixed contacts on the body, a movable bridging element movable from a rest position to a position wherein it completes a circuit between said fixed contacts and an insulating member movable relative to said plate in response to insertion of the key through said slot, said insulating member being associated with said bridging element so that movement of said insulating member in response to insertion of said key causes movement of said bridging element to make said circuit.

In use the switch is connected in series with a switch operated by the drivers door of the road vehicle and a warning device so that should the drivers door be opened with the key in the ignition control and the ignition control in its off position then the warning device will be energized. The invention further resides in a system for warning the driver of a road vehicle that the operating key has been left in the ignition control when the drivers door is opened.

in the accompanying drawings,

F IG. 1 is an inverted plan view of a switch, in accordance with a first example of the invention FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a switch in accordance with a second example of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the switch shown in FIG. 4,

F IG. 6 is a view similar to F IG. 5 with parts omitted for clarity, and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a printed circuit board shown in FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the switch includes a hollow cylindrical moulded synthetic resin body 11 which is closed at one end by a synthetic resin disc 12. The disc 12 is received as a snap fit in the body 11, and is rotatable relative to the body 11. The disc 12 is formed with a diametrically extending slot 13, and at opposite ends of the slot of the rear face of the disc 12 is formed with a pair of integral posts 14. Slidably mounted in a recess in the rear face of the disc 12 is a part circular moulded synthetic resin plate 15, the plate 15 being slidable relative to the disc 12 between a first position wherein the slot 13 is partially closed by the plate 15, and a second position wherein the slot 13 is open.

Secured to the rear face of the disc 12 is a V-shaped metal spring 16 the limbs 16a, 16b of which engage a rib 17 upstanding from the rear surface of the plate 15, the spring 16 urging the plate 15 to move relative to the disc 12 to its first position. The body 11 carries a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate fixed contacts 18a, 18b, which subtend an angle of 90 and which include portions extending axially on the inner surface of the body 11. The limbs 16a, 16b of the spring 16 are spaced from the contacts 18a, 18b when the plate 15 is in its first position, and movement of the plate 15 from its first to its second position, flexes the limbs 16a, 16b of the spring 16 away from one another, and into engagement with the contacts 18a, 18b respectively so that the spring 16 completes a circuit between the contacts 18a, 18b.

In use, the switch is utilized in conjunction with a conventional key operated ignition switch of a road vehicle. The key operated ignition switch includes a forwardly extending cylindrical spigot which houses the barrel of a conventional cylinder lock. The body 11 of the switch is engaged as an interference fit with the forwardly extending spigot of the ignition switch, and is so orientated with respect to the ignition switch that the slot 13 in the disc 12 is parallel with the key receiving slot in the barrel of the cylinder lock of the ignition switch, and the contacts 18a, 18b are engageable by the spring 16 when the plate 15 is moved to its second position with the ignition switch in its off position. As stated above, the ignition switch is conventional, and so the operating key of the ignition switch can be inserted into, and withdrawn from the ignition switch in the off position of the switch. The disc 12, and the plate 15 mask the forwardly presented end of the ignition switch, and so with the plate 15 in its first position the key receiving slot of the ignition switch is covered. Thus, in order to operate the ignition switch, the operating key must be inserted through the slot 13 to reach the key receiving slot in the barrel of the ignition switch, and in so doing the plate 15 is moved by the ignition key from its first to its second position so that the circuit between the contacts 18a, 18b is completed by the spring 16. Clearly, when the operating key is withdrawn from the ignition switch theplate 15 is moved under the action of the spring 16 back to its first position, and the circuit between the contacts 18a, 18b, is broken.

The switch constituted by the contacts 18a, 18b, and the spring 16, is connected in use, in series with a switch which is closed when the drivers door of the vehicle is opened, and a warning device, for example, a buzzer. This circuit is not de pendent on the ignition switch being in its on position, and so if the operating key is left in the ignition switch, and the drivers door is opened, for example so that the driver can leave the vehicle, then the warning device is energized and a warning is given to the driver of the vehicle that the operating key has been left in the ignition switch. When the operating key is rotated to operate the ignition switch, the disc 12 is rotated relative to the body 11, and so after of rotation the limbs 16a, 16b of the spring 16 are moved out of engagement with the contacts 18a, 18b and the circuit between the contacts 18a, 18b is broken.

In the example described above, the operating key can only be removed from the ignition switch in the off position of the switch. However, in a modified form of ignition switch, the ignition switch is coupled to a steering column lock and the operating key of the ignition switch also operates the steering column lock. In such an arrangement there are two angularly spaced positions of the ignition switch where the key can be removed. A first position wherein the steering column lock of the vehicle is operative and the ignition switch is in an off position, and a second angularly spaced off position of the ignition switch wherein the steering column lock is inoperative, the second position usually being termed a garage position. The second position is conveniently spaced by 90 from the first position, and since the key can be removed in the second position it is desirable that the driver of the vehicle be warned if he attempts to leave the vehicle without removing the operating key when the arrangement is in the second position.

Since the contacts 18a, 18b are of sufficient arcuate length to subtend an angle of 90 then when the operating key is in.

the ignition switch in the garage position then the contacts 18a, 18b will still be engaged by the spring 16 so that a warning is given when the drivers door is opened. It will be appreciated that such a warning will also be given if the ignition switch is in any position between said first position and said garage position although it may not be possible to withdraw the operating key in those intermediate positions.

The switch which is closed by opening of the drivers door can conveniently be the courtesy light switch on the drivers door of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the switch includes a hollow, cylindrical moulded synthetic resin body 21, which is adapted to be engaged as a push fit on the casing of a key operated ignition switch of a road vehicle. One end of the body 21 is closed by a moulded rotor 22 which is carried by a moulded bezel 21a engaged as a snap fit with the body 21. The outer surface of the rotor 22 carries a, decorative cover 22a, the rotor 22 and its associated cover being mounted for rotation within the bezel 21a. The rotor 22 includes a diametrically extending slot 23, which is normally closed by a shutter 23a, and through which an operating key can be inserted into the key operated ignition switch the key moving the shutter 23a to open the slot 23 pivotally mounted on the rear surface of the rotor 22 is a moulded synthetic resin pivot piece 24. The pivot piece 24 is pivotally mounted on the rotor 22 for movement between a first position wherein it partially covers the slot 23, and a second position wherein it is clear of the slot 23, the pivot piece 24 being engaged by the shutter 23a and so being movable to its second position by insertion of a key through the slot 23. Also secured to the rear surface of the rotor 22, adjacent the pivot piece 24, is a hairpin spring25, one limb 25a, of which engages a stop on the rotor 22, and the other limb 25b of which engages the pivot piece 24, the spring 25 urging the pivot piece 24 to its first position. Secured to the body 21 by the bezel 21a, parallel with the rotor 12, and adjacent the rear surface of the rotor 22 is an annular printed circuit board 26. The printed circuit board 26 carries a pair of concentric arcuate conductive areas 27, 28 which are insulated from one another, and which include respective terminal regions adjacent the wall of the body 21. Secured to the body 21 are a pair of angularly spaced terminals 29, 31 which are engaged with the terminal regions of the conductive areas-27, 28 respectively of the printed circuit board 26. The terminals 29, 31 have respective conductive leads electrically connected thereto, through which electrical connections are made to the switch.

The position of the springs 25 on the rotor 22 is such that the limb 25a of the spring 25 engages, and makes electrical connection with the conductive area 28 of the board 26. The limb 25b of the spring 25 is normally spaced from the conductive area 27, but upon insertion of a key through the slot 23 into the key operated ignition switch, then the limbd25b is flexed by the pivot piece 24, as the pivot piece 24 is, moved to its second position, so that the limb 25b engages, and makes electrical contact with the conductive area 27 of the board 26. Thus, when the operating key is inserted through the slot 23, the areas 27 28 of the printed circuit board 26 are bridged by the spring 25 and a circuit is completed through the switch, between the terminals 29, 31.

The circuit through the switch by way of the spring is maintained throughout the angular movement of the key during operation of the key operated ignition switch, the limbs a, 25b of the spring 25 sliding on the arcuate conductive areas 27, 28 in the manner of slip rings.

The areas 27, 28 of the printed circuit board 26 constitute the fixed contacts of the switch, and the switchis, in use, connected in series with a switch which is closed when the drivers door of the vehicle is opened, and a warning device, for example a buzzer. This circuit is not dependent upon the ignition switch being in its on position and so if the operating key is left in the ignition switch and the driver's door is opened, then the warning device is energized.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical switch, for use in conjunction with a key operated ignition control in a road vehicle, comprising, a hollow body, a rotatable cover plate mounted on the body and closing one end of the body, said rotatable cover plate having an operating member formed from insulating material, means mounting said operating member on said rotatable cover, ad-

jacent said slot in the cover, for movement relative to the cover, said bridging contact being movable in response to movement of said operating member, and said operating member being movable from its rest position by insertion of said operating key into said ignition control in use, through said slot in said rotatable cover, to an operative position wherein said bridging contact completes an electrical circuit between said fixed contacts.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating member is slidably mounted on said rotor.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating,

member is pivotally mounted on said rotor.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bridging contact is resilient and urges the operating member towards its rest position.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed contacts are defined by respective arcuate members carried by the body.

6. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed contacts are defined by respective arcuate conductive regions on a printed circuit board. v

7. An electrical switch, for use in conjunction with a key operated control in a road vehicle, including a hollow body which is positioned in use generally coaxially with the barrel of a cylinder lock of the ignition control with which the switch is utilized, a plate closing one end of the body and mounted for rotation relative to the body, a slot in said plate through which the operating key is inserted into the barrel of said cylinder lock, a pair of fixed contacts on the body, a movable bridging element movable from a rest position to a position wherein it completes a circuit between said fixed contacts and an insulating member movable relative to said plate in response to insertion of the key through said slot, said insulating member being associated with said bridging element so that movement of said insulating member in response to insertion of said key causes movement of said bridging element to make said circuit.

8. An electrical switch for use in conjunction with a key operated ignition control in a road vehicle, including a hollow body which is positioned, in use generally coaxially with the barrel of a cylinder lock of the ignition control, a plate closing one end of the body and mounted for rotation relative to the body, a slot in said plate through which the operating key is inserted into the barrel of said cylinder lock, a printed circuit boardsupported within the body and having a pair of exposed, arcuate, conductive areas defining a pair of fixed contacts, a movable bridging element movable'from a rest position to a position in which it completes a circuit between said fixed contacts, and an insulating member movable relative to said plate in response to insertion of the key through said slot, said insulating member being associated with said bridging element so that movement of said insulating member in response to insertion of the key causes movement of said bridging element to make said circuit. 

1. An electrical switch, for use in conjunction with a key operated ignition control in a road vehicle, comprising, a hollow body, a rotatable cover plate mounted on the body and closing one end of the body, said rotatable cover plate having therein a slot through which, in use, an operating key associated with said key operated ignition control it inserted, a pair of fixed electrical contacts, a movable bridging contact, an operating member formed from insulating material, means mounting said operating member on said rotatable cover, adjacent said slot in the cover, for movement relative to the cover, said bridging contact being movable in response to movement of said operating member, and said operating member being movable from its rest position by insertion of said operating key into said ignition control in use, through said slot in said rotatable cover, to an operative position wherein said bridging contact completes an electrical circuit between said fixed contacts.
 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating member is slidably mounted on said rotor.
 3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating member is pivotally mounted on said rotor.
 4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bridging contact is resilient and urges the operating member towards its rest position.
 5. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed contacts are defined by respective arcuate members carried by the body.
 6. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed contacts are defined by respective arcuate conductive regions on a printed circuit board.
 7. An electrical switch, for use in conjunction with a key operated control in a road vehicle, including a hollow body which is positioned in use generally coaxially with the barrel of a cylinder lock of the ignition control with which the switch is utilized, a plate closing one end of the body and mounted for rotation relative to the body, a slot in said plate through which the operating key is inserted into the barrel of said cylinder lock, a pair of fixed contacts on the body, a movable bridging element movable from a rest position to a position wherein it completes a circuit between said fixed contacts and an insulating member movable relative to said plate in response to insertion of the key through said slot, said insulating member being associated with said bridging element so that movement of said insulating member in response to insertion of said key causes movement of said bridging element to make said circuit.
 8. An electrical switch for use in conjunction with a key operated ignition control in a road vehicle, including a hollow body which is positioned, in use generally coaxially with the barrel of a cylinder lock of the ignition control, a plate closing one end of the body and mounted for rotation relative to the body, a slot in said plate through which the operating key is inserted into the barrel of said cylinder lock, a printed circuit board supported within the body and having a pair of exposed, arcuate, conductive areas defining a pair of fixed contacts, a movable bridging element movable from a rest position to a position in which it completes a circuit between said fixed contacts, and an insulating member movable relative to said plate in response to insertion of the key through said slot, said insulating member being associated with said bridging element so that movement of said insulating member in response to insertion of the key causes movement of said bridging element to make said circuit. 